The most beautiful lakes in Spain
If you’re searching for fascinating natural places, don’t look any further. Besides the fabulous beaches splattered throughout the Spanish coasts, there are many other places where you can find large water bodies. Lakes, reservoirs, and lagoons are just some of the gems that remain hidden among the Spanish mountains. Although choosing the most beautiful lakes in Spain isn’t an easy task, we have selected the best of them.
Spanish lakes that shine in breathtaking landscapes
7. Lago de Sanabria, Zamora
Let’s start with the largest glacial lake in Spain and the Iberian peninsula. If that wasn’t enough, it is also one of the most beautiful.
Lago de Sanabria sits in the province of Zamora, Castilla y León, and belongs to the Lago de Sanabria y Sierras de Segundera y Porto Natural Park. It covers more than 300 hectares and reaches a depth of 51 metres and it will take your breath away.
To visit this place is more than a treat for the eyes, and it can be the ideal spot to relax thanks to its sand and stone beaches where you can enjoy a bath, like Custa Llago. There are many camping areas here to experience an incredible journey, and some spaces are especially designated for sports.
6. Laguna Rosa, Alicante
This list obviously had to include a unique place in Spain: the Laguna Rosa (literally, 'pink lagoon') of Torrevieja, a natural spot where you will take plenty of photos for sure.
It awaits you in Torrevieja, in Alicante, a favourite destination for sun and beach lovers. But this place is also known for its eye-catching lake of pink shades. This interesting natural phenomenon results from the presence of a bacteria that releases a pink pigment into water bodies with a high concentration of salt. Its characteristics remind of the Asian Dead Sea, thus receiving the name of ‘the Valencian Dead Sea.’
5. Estany de Banyoles, Girona
Lago de Bañolas, or Estany de Banyoles, its name in Catalan, is the largest lake in the province of Girona and the whole of Cataluña. Not only is it extremely beautiful, but it is also the perfect place for a relaxing and refreshing day.
Here you can practice water sports too, and many other areas are meant for fishing. Its gorgeous wooden pier, its resting area, and its nautical club are the home of the ‘Spanish Loch Ness.’ Just like Nessie, legend has it that Mon-Mon lives in these waters. This hungry aquatic dragon of large dimensions is always watching bathers.
4. Lago de la Cueva, Asturias
The Lago de la Cueva has the shape of a bowl and is completely surrounded by mountains. This results in a very interesting landscape that you should see in person. Together with the Lago de Cerveiz and the Lago Negro-Calabazosa, it is part of the Conjunto Lacustre de Somiedo.
They are all located in the Somiedo Natural Park, a place of great natural richness that should be on your itinerary if you’re in this area of Asturias. You can get here through the Ruta de los Lagos, which begins in the Alto de la Farrapona. Once you complete it, you will be able to follow your path to its two brother lakes.
3. Laguna Negra, Soria
The Laguna Negra ('Black Lagoon') of Soria is around 50 kilometres from the capital city of Soria. This beautiful and enigmatic lagoon is one of the most attractive natural spots in the country.
Nestled in granite walls, this idyllic spot is surrounded by an endless sea of pines and beeches that paint it the dark shade that gives it its name. At more than 1,700 metres of altitude in a forest of almost 5,000 hectares, this landscape is a a sight to behold.
According to popular belief, this lagoon is bottomless and joins the sea under the ground. This is only a myth—it is known that it has a real depth of 8 metres.
2. Lakes of Covadonga, Asturias
The popularity and undeniable charm of the Lakes of Covadonga make them a must on this list of the most beautiful lakes in Spain. They sit in the Picos de Europa National Park, a mountainous spot that hosts the glacial lakes of Enol and Ercina, also known as the Lakes of Covadonga.
This spectacular complex was declared a Biosphere Reserve by UNESCO in 2003 and is one of the main tourist attractions in the area and the country. This place, located more than 1,000 metres above sea level, is perfect for a relaxing getaway and will charm every hiking lover.
1. Lago de San Mauricio, Lleida
This is one of the most impressive Pyrenean locations. The Lago de San Mauricio, or Sant Maurici, is in the Catalan province of Lleida, in the heart of the Aigüestortes Natural Park, a natural reserve you will never forget.
It specifically sits at more than 1,900 metres of altitude and covers a 37-hectare area. The top of the giant mountains this lake is surrounded by reflect on its calm, crystal-clear waters. Los Encantados Peak is the most representative, but the forests of mountain pine are worth a mention too. They all create a beautiful picture that fascinates those who see it, a picture that is enough to consider this place one of the most beautiful lakes in Spain.
You can also read this article in Spanish here.
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